'Ninhursag' means 'Lady of the Mountain' and comes from the poem Lugale in which Ninurta, god of war and hunting, defeats the demon Asag and his stone army and builds a mountain of their corpses. Her husband/consort was Sul-pa-e, a minor god associated with the underworld, with whom she had three children (Asgi, Lisin, and Lil). Enki and Ninhursag had four children: Marduk, Enbilulu, Asarluhi and the sage Adapa.Enki, who was also the god of semen, had numerous incestuous affairs, which he ascribed to his insatiable love for his wife. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. The names of the goddess changed from story to story and are no aid in dating a particular text, save, perhaps, in those identifying Ninhursag as the earlier Damgalnuna. No firm date has been established for the work, however. Ninhursag as the Great Mother presided over all, commoner and king alike. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. of the Divine Feminine in Mesopotamia was Ninhursag-Ki. Following Hammurabi's reign, from c. 1750 BCE onwards, male deities would dominate the pantheons of Mesopotamia, and even after the Amorites were defeated, this same paradigm continued. 79-82Ninmah threw the pinched-off clay from her hand on the ground and a great silence fell. Enki and Ninhursag elevate humans of Anunnaki parentage to rule in Shuruppak. 37-41) keeps popping up, especially in popular literature and on the internet. In time, the left side associated with the goddess concept would be connected with darkness and evil as can be seen in the word 'sinister,' which originally was Latin for 'left' but came to signify 'threatening,' 'evil,' and similar concepts long before the word appears with such connotations in Late Middle English (c. 1375-1425 CE). Ninkurra, in turn, bore Enki a daughter named Uttu. He cannot support himself. ENKI AND NINHURSAG U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK-HEADED PEOPLE This website is an introduction to the world of ‘the black-headed people’ in the Ancient Near East, the cradle of classic and western civilization. Related Content Imdugud Copper Frieze from the Ninhursag Temple, by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA), by The Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). 11-16. Through Enki, Ninsar bore a daughter Ninkurra. The immensely popular goddess Inanna/Ishtar would become secondary to male gods like the Assyrian Assur, and the powerful goddess Ereshkigal, who ruled the underworld, would be given a male consort (Nergal) to reign with her. A fox appears, one of Ninhursag's animals, who knows where she is and goes to bring her back. Premium PDF Package. If it could be authoritatively determined that the story of Enki and Ninmah dated from this time, then the myth would correspond to the overall decline in stature and equality goddesses (and women) were then experiencing. License. She says to Enki, "The man you have fashioned is neither alive nor dead. Contacts earth to say that any children on Adam and even cannot be kept as slaves. https://www.ancient.eu/Ninhursag/. In still others, she is identified with Kishar (also known as Ki), mother earth. Enki and Ninmah sit drinking beer together and eventually become quite drunk. Her children are Marduk, Ashnan, Lahar, Ninsar and Ningal. Amorously seeking his wife, Enki happened across Ninsar instead, and, stricken by her resemblance to Ninhursag, seduced her. None of the male gods who have participated in creation - not even the most powerful such as Anu or Enlil - can do anything to heal Enki; only the mother goddess can draw out the sickness and turn death into life. Through Enki, Ninsar bore a daughter Ninkurra. Aside from the influence on the later biblical tale, the myth makes clear the power of the mother goddess figure in Sumerian belief. In their first literary traditions the Sumerians refer to themselves as the ‘black-headed people’. The myth of Enki and Ninhursag is a true Sumerian myth (as opposed to the Enuma Elish which was only founded on Sumerian tradition). After a particularly langorous tryst, it happened that Ninhursag gave birth to a baby girl named Ninsar before departing to work on the earth, ensuring fertility and health among the people. Kramer notes how "the early Sumerian rulers liked to describe themselves as 'constantly nourished by Ninhursag with milk.' Kramer, however, did give credence to it, as mentioned by the blogger to whom you linked (see Kramer's History Begins at Sumer, pp. According to Sumerian mythology, Enki also assisted humanity to survive the Deluge designed to kill them. She turns on him the eye of death, curses him, and departs from paradise and the world. The God Enki in Sumerian Royal Ideology and Mythology. Ninurta gives the glory of his victory to his mother Ninmah ('Magnificent Queen') and renames her Ninhursag. In the Legend of Atrahasis, Enlil, the king of the gods, sets out to eliminate humanity, the noise of whose mating is offensive to his ears. Anu sees Adam and Evening are Enkis children. Ninkurra, in turn, bore Enki a daughter named Uttu. Enlil, enraged. Enki looked at the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body and give it the name " Nibru eunuch (? Web. Enki, god of wisdom, magic, and fresh water, finds her there and falls deeply in love with her. Through Enki, Ninsar bore a daughter Ninkurra ("Lady of the Pasture"). All publications deal with aspects of Near Eastern civilization in its broader sense. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna (Ninhursag). He creates a man afflicted in every area of his body and hands it to Ninmah. A similar question will be answered with reference to the demise of the Ur III Regime, dominated by the Sumerians from ca. After accelerated gestation, she gives birth—“like oil”—to Ninkura. Ninhursag was the mountain and mother goddess in Sumerian mythology. Ninmah makes a man whose hands are weak and Enki improves his life by making him a servant to a king because he would not be able to steal. In the second millennium BCE, as noted, feminine deities experienced a loss in status as the male gods of the Amorites of Babylon under Hammurabi took precedence. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Upset about Enki's reputation [gossips already being a pain in those ancient days], Uttu consults Ninhursag, who, upset at the promiscuous nature of her spouse advises Uttu to avoid the riverbanks. Enki, god of wisdom, magic, and fresh water, finds her there and falls deeply in love with her. Ninhursag is among the most likely candidates for the original "mother earth" figure, developing from Nammu, as she is associated with fertility, growth, transformation, creation, pregnancy, childbirth, and nurture. Please note that this site is in progress. When spring comes, Ninhursag must return to her duties of nurturing living things on earth and leaves Dilmun, but Enki and Ninsar remain. Enki is annoyed with the request but consents to his mother's wishes that he create beings who will ease the gods' burden. Download with Google Download with Facebook. Download Full PDF Package. Mark, Joshua J. Enki has also been regarded as the son of Nammu, the primordial mother goddess who gave birth to the heavens and the earth. Enki accepts Medi-Cal, MediCare, and Healthy Families. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Although one may be tempted to locate this tale prior to Enki and Ninhursag, because she is known by her earlier name in this story, any such claims are untenable. Father Enki, your praise is sweet!". Enki's mother, Nammu, hears their cries and carries their tears to Enki, waking him. Uttu, on her ancestress Ninhursag's advice buried Enki's seed in the earth, whereupon eight plants (the very first) sprung up. Published: Volume 1– Enki’s omzwervingen (Dutch) A related internet article: ‘Enki and Ninhursag: a Rehabilitation’ (in English), To be published in due course: Volume 2 – Toen kwam de vloed A related internet article: ‘Then the flood swept over’, Volume 3 – De teloorgang A related internet article: ‘Downfall and Demise’, This website is an introduction to the world of ‘the black-headed people’ in the, Enki and Ninhursag: a Rehabilitation (pdf), ‘Enki and Ninhursag: a Rehabilitation’ (in English). There are a number of Mesopotamian stories, legends, prayers and royal inscriptions in which Enki plays a major role. Now the Sumerian word for "rib" is ti (pronounced tee); the goddess created for the healing of Enki's rib was therefore called in Sumerian Nin-ti "the Lady of the rib". Scholar E.A. Create a free account to download. This paper. She is known as the Mother of the Gods and Mother of Men for her part in creating both divine and mortal entities, having replaced the earlier Mother Goddess, Nammu (also known as Namma) whose worship is attested as early as Dynastic III (2600-2334 BCE) of the Early Dynastic Period (2900-2334 BCE). It is known that the female deities in Mesopotamia were overshadowed by the males during the reign of Hammurabi of Babylon (1792-1750 BCE). Enki and Ninhursanga: translation 1-4 Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Ninhursag tells Uttu to wipe Enki's seed from her body and bury it in the earth of Dilmun. Mark, published on 26 January 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. But the Sumerian word ti also means "to make live" as well as "the Lady of the rib". Ninkurra also develops into a young woman in nine days, and Enki again believes he sees his beloved Ninhursag in the girl. Enki impregnates the goddess Ninhursag " the mother of ' the land '," who after nine days of pregnancy gives birth, without pain or effort, to the goddess Ninmu 1:-'R (lines 73-88). Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The composition Enki and Ninhursaga is comprised of two stories, the first is a creation story that serves as an introduction to the second - a debate. Ninmah is frustrated and throws her next lump of clay to the ground, but Enki picks it up and resumes the game, telling her how he will now fashion a creature and she must improve its fate as he has done. Ninhursag had many different names given in various myths according to her particular role or the theme of the story. Uttu and Enki are happy together for a while, but just as with Ninsar and Ninkurra, Enki falls out of love with her once he realizes she is not Ninhursag and leaves her, returning to his work on earth. Books Ninhursag was worshiped at the city of Adab and was also associated with Kesh (as one of her names, Belet-ili of Kesh, confirms), not Kish, as is often incorrectly cited. Pure is Dilmun land. In the epic Enki and Ninhursag, Enki, as lord of Ab or fresh water (also the Sumerian word for semen), is living with his wife in the paradise of Dilmun where He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. 2010. A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. Download Free PDF. Reverse the sexes and you will see the mighty and charming figures of Enki and Ninhursag come to life, and more. The myth represents Ninhursag as all-powerful in that she is able to inflict death on one of the most potent gods and is also the only one who can heal him. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. She first appears in written works during the Early Dynastic Period I (c. 2900-2800 BCE), but physical evidence suggests worship of the Mother Goddess figure dating back to at least 4500 BCE, during the Ubaid Period, before the Sumerians had come to the region of southern Mesopotamia. Wallis Budge notes how she "created the gods and sucked kings and terracotta figures of her represent her suckling a child at her left breast" (84). plots Mankind's demise. Enki accepts her challenge saying, "Whatever fate you decide, good or bad, I will improve it.". "Ninhursag." Cite This Work PDF. She and Anu awoke to life in each other´s arms within the embrace Nammu the Sea (Creation (C2 Mark, Joshua J. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Ninhursag is a queen of the Mesopotamian deities. Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki's mighty prowess and said to him: ' Beloved, the powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu that lies deep within you, transformed the land, my stony body. The influence of this metropolitan city in the delta of the Euphrates and the Tigris ranged from the cities in western India to the upper reaches of those rivers in Anatolia. In all the myths concerning her, Ninhursag is associated with life & power, but Enki comes to rival and, finally, dominate her. She was often invoked by mothers as she was thought to form and care for the child in the womb and provide food after he or she was born. Ninhursag returns and is enraged that Enki has eaten all of the plants. The Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag tells the story of the beginning of the world in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. In iconography she is represented by a sign resembling the Greek symbol Omega often accompanied by a knife; this is thought to represent the uterus and the blade used to cut the umbilical cord thus symbolizing Ninhursag's role as mother goddess. Ninhursag rushes to Enki's side, draws him to her, and places his head against her vagina. Ninhursag is one of the four creating deities in Sumerian religious belief (along with Anu, Enlil, and Enki) and is frequently mentioned in many of the most important Mesopotamian myths. They spend many nights together, and Ninhursag becomes pregnant with a daughter they name Ninsar ('Lady of Vegetation'). Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. In the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian epic of creation, Enki is the father of the champion Marduk, who defeats the forces of chaos, and is co-creator of the world with his son. This website is an introduction to the world of ‘the black-headed people’ in the Ancient Near East, the cradle of classic and western civilization. Enki, without knowing that Ninsar was his daughter, seduces Ninsar and has a daughter with her called Nikturra. Enki and Ninhursag: The Trickster in Paradise 3 C. Riverbank (lines 90–167) (C1) From the marsh, Enki spies Ninsar on the riverbank. Enlil is furious at Enki’s fornication, but must obey. Realizing that the passage of Nibiru in Earth's proximity will trigger an immense tidal wave, Enlil makes the Anunnaki swear to keep … (149). After consultation with his sukkal, Isimud, Enki travels by boat to dry land and there copulates with Ninsar. Ninmah challenges Enki to a contest of sorts saying how the humans' bodies - Enki's design - may be either good or bad but their fates will be good or bad depending entirely on her will. Ninhursag cured him, taking the plants into … PDF. Orientalist Samuel Noah Kramer writes: Perhaps the most interesting result of our comparative analysis of the Sumerian poem is the explanation which it provides for one of the most puzzling motifs in the biblical paradise story, the famous passage describing the fashioning of Eve, "the mother of all living", from the rib of Adam - for why a rib? Ancient History Encyclopedia, 26 Jan 2017. Uttu, on her ancestress Ninhursag's advice buried Enki's seed in the earth, whereupon eight plants (the very first) sprung up. The reason becomes quite clear if we assume a Sumerian literary background, such as that represented by our Dilmun poem, to underly the biblical paradise tale; for in our Sumerian poem, one of Enki's sick organs is the rib. PDF. In his wife’s absence, Enki mistook the girl for Ninhursag and seduced her. Enki sends Adam to Nibiru with his son Ningishzhadda to be seen by Anu, and gives secret info only Anu must see. She tries to feed it, but it cannot eat, neither can it stand, walk, talk, or function in any way. 2100 until 2200 BCE. It says: “Wisdom built herself a house on a rock and from this rock flow the waters of life”. She was originally known as Damkina and Damgalnuna in Sumer, a nurturing mother goddess associated with fertility in the city of Malgum. Ninhursag cure… This same pattern goes on with Ninmah giving Enki greater and greater challenges, which he meets. He and Ninhursag had a daughter called Ninsar, who grew to be a woman in only nine days. In another version of this myth Ninhursag takes Enki's semen from Uttu's womb and plants it in the earth where seven plants rapidly germinate. ", Enki objects, pointing out that she presented him with a number of challenging creatures and he was able to improve on them all. Please help us create teaching materials on Mesopotamia (including several complete lessons with worksheets, activities, answers, essay questions, and more), which will be free to download for teachers all over the world. Enki misses Ninhursag terribly and, one day, sees Ninsar walking by the marshes and believes her to be the incarnation of Ninhursag. Statuary representing the goddess always emphasizes the left side in one way or another. It is possible that the story comes from the later period in Mesopotamian history, however, and given the loss in stature of the goddess in the myth, a later date is most likely. Ninkurra, in turn, bore Enki a daughter named Uttu. Uttu does as she is told, and nine days later, eight new plants grow from the earth. Ninhursag forgives him, and the two return to the work of creation. The Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag tells the story of the beginning of the world in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun. (2017, January 26). He is famously depicted in the works concerning Ninhursag (Ninmah) such as Enki and Ninhursag and Enki and Ninmah both of which concern the creation of the world and humanity. This idea based on the Sumerian myth known as Enki and Ninhursag (see ANET, pp. Every myth, poem, or story Ninhursag appears in she is linked with life, caring, creation, and the role of the mother goddess. He seduces her, and she becomes pregnant with a daughter Ninkurra (goddess of mountain pastures). In the legend of Enki and Ninhursag, Ninhursag bore a daughter to Enki called Ninsar ("Lady Greenery"). When it is completed it consists of three volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English. In the example Wallis Budge gives, it is a child at the left breast, but the symbolism could also be an uncovered left breast, raised left arm, or some other detail. Enki becomes sick and is dying, and all the other gods mourn, but no one can heal him except for Ninhursag, and she cannot be found. Ancient History Encyclopedia. The practice of wearing a wedding ring on the left hand originated in Rome to ward off evil powers associated with the left. In the myth of “Enki and Ninmah” recounted above, Enki had humans sired by the “engendering clay of the Apsu”—i.e., of the waters underground—and borne by Nammu. She then makes a man and blinds him, but Enki improves his life by giving him the gift of music and making him minstrel to the king. A short summary of this paper. The Atrahasis also gives Enki as the creator of humans who devises them as a means to relieve the gods of the burden of work. She was primarily seen as the protector of women and children, who presided over conception, gestation, and birth but also held a position of high honor among the gods. They cry out to Enki to do something to help them, but Enki, represented as a supreme god, is resting after the effort of creation and will not wake. Ninhursag. A diachronic map of Sumer and Akkad in the alluvial plains of Mesopotamia. They are paired. Uttu is distraught and calls upon Ninhursag for help, explaining what has happened. (Reading Sumerian Poetry, 23). ‘Enki and Ninhursag’ is perhaps one of the most difficult Mesopotamian myth for Judeo-Christian Westerners to understand, because it stands as the opposite of the myth of Adam and Eve in Paradise found in the Old Testament Bible. Last modified January 26, 2017. Ninmah's response to this is lost because the tablet is broken at this point, but when the story resumes, Enki is obviously the winner of the challenge, and the work ends with the lines, "Ninmah could not rival the great lord Enki. Ninhursag also appears in The Atrahasis where she fashions humans out of clay mixed with the flesh, blood, and intelligence of one of the gods who sacrifices himself for the good of the many. She is the daughter of Nammu, the Goddess of the Primeval Sea, in whose womb She was conceived together with An, the Skyfather. A daughter named Ninkurra was born from their union. All the older gods praise his wisdom, and the younger gods are relieved of their labors. They are forced to dig canals and harvest fields and engage in all kind of menial labor, which prevents them from greater work or any kind of leisure. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. 24 Dec 2020. Marduk is amused. Enki, seeing the plants, ate them, and became ill in eight organs of his body. He poured semen into Ninhursaja ‘s (Ninhursag) womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. Enki's Adult services are aimed at promoting recovery and stability for community living, helping the client to achieve higher levels of functioning, enhancing the quality of life and encouraging a return to work, school, volunteering, or other meaningful activity. It was this, one of the most ancient of literary puns, which was carried over and perpetuated in the biblical paradise story, although there, of course, the pun loses its validity, since the Hebrew words for "rib" and "who makes live" have nothing in common. The people would worship the goddess as they did any other Mesopotamian deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations made to the temple. "Ninhursag." (This structure is also found in the composition known as Enki and Ninmah). Her influence is considered significant, however, in the development of later goddesses as she has been associated with Hathor and Isis of Egypt, Gaia of Greece, and Cybele of Anatolia, the later Magna Mater of Rome, who would contribute to the development of the figure of the Virgin Mary. Ninhursag (also Ninhursaga) is the Sumerian Mother Goddess and one of the oldest and most important in the Mesopotamian Pantheon. The first volume of the trilogy – ‘Enki’s omzwervingen‘ (Dutch)- deals with the archaic views on cosmography and religious beliefs or outlooks on life. Her other names include Makh, Ninmakh, Mamma, Mama, and Aruru. This, he learns, is a tree plant and finds it so delicious that Isimud plucks the other seven, which Enki also quickly eats. Mark, J. J. In the myth of Enki and Ninmah, Ninhursag begins on equal footing with the god, but by the end, loses her status. Kramer notes how Ninhursag is listed last of the four creating deities, but how "in an earlier day this goddess was probably of even higher rank and her name often preceded that of Enki when the four gods were listed together" (122). She was further honored with temples at Ashur, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Mari, Lagash, and many other cities throughout Mesopotamia for thousands of years. The myth of Enki and Ninhursag also describes the Sumerian paradise as a garden, which Enki obtains water from Utu to irrigate. Written by Joshua J. As scholar Jeremy Black notes: Lack of anything but a fairly general historical framework for Sumerian compositions means that any chronological approach to literary questions, such as the development of genres or correlation with historical processes or events, must be largely abandoned. The story opens with the younger gods weary from all their endless toil. At this point, Enki returns along with his vizier Isimud. In ancient Mesopotamia, as elsewhere, the left side was considered feminine and "dark" while the right side was masculine and "light" (a concept familiar to anyone in the modern day acquainted with Reiki). Ninhursag and Enki. Ninhursag knew how charming Enki could be, but no matter what, young Uttu the Weaver should be advised to avoid the riverbanks, or the places where Enki and herself could be found alone or unchaperoned: ' Daughter Uttu, beware of the marshes and the riverbanks, where Enki, the Sweet Waters god, reigns as Sovereign. The second volume – ‘Toen kwam de vloed’ (Dutch) – is centred on the question whether the rather abrupt end of Uruk as the main commercial centre of Mesopotamia about 3000 BCE relates to the effects of the Great Flood discovered by the well-known archaeologist Leonard Woolley and described in several Near Eastern stories including ‘Genesis’, the first book of the Bible. She finally creates a being with neither penis nor vagina, but Enki finds a place for this creature as a eunuch to the king who will watch over him. Lord of the Waters. It is no accident that, in the Hebrew legend of Lillith, the rebellious first wife of Adam emerges from his left side to later fly away from paradise with her demons; the goddess figure and her symbols had to be inverted and charged with negative associations for the male gods to achieve dominance. He asks her to work with Ninmah and other fertility goddesses to create human beings and give them life. Although in this myth the goddess loses stature, she was still regarded as a powerful deity one could turn to in times of trouble and rely on for protection and guidance. In this myth, when the great flood is released on the world by Enlil and humanity is destroyed, all the gods mourn but Ninhursag is specifically mentioned crying for the death of her children. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK-HEADED PEOPLE. In all the myths concerning her, Ninhursag is associated with life and power, but Enki comes to rival and, finally, dominate her. In the legend of Enki and Ninhursag, Ninhursag bore a daughter to Enki called Ninsar ("Lady Greenery"). PDF. He successively sends drought, famine and plague to eliminate h… The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, Ninsitu - goddess of healing and consort of Ninazu, Azimua - goddess of healing and wife of Ningishida of the underworld, Ninti - 'the Lady of the rib,' who gives life. There were no temple services in which congregants gathered for weekly worship, but the many festivals held throughout the year provided opportunity for expressing one's devotion publicly. Enki’s wife was Ninhursag, and amongst their children are Asarluhi, Enbilulu, and Marduk. The project is called ‘The Rise and Fall of the Black-headed people’. Enki, seeing the plants, ate them, and became ill in eight organs of his body. She is the sister of Enlil and husband of Enki. Free PDF. Ninhursag blesses the child with abundant growth, and she matures into a woman in nine days. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. Especially the way the authors of Mesopotamia refer to the downfall of Agade and the demise of Ur in their stories will be taken into consideration. Cursed by Ninhursag, and apparently sick unto death from his meal, Enki the Trickster sits or lies immobile, as do the other gods too, the Annunaki, who all sit in the dust (220). La diosa Ninsikila (patrona del paraíso mítico de Dilmún) le pide a Enki que proporcione aguas dulces a Dilmún, pues esta tierra era un desierto inhabitable.Según el texto de arcilla encontrado en Ur lll de la época paleo-babilónica, Ninsikila no estaba conforme con el territorio que le otorgó su padre Enki, un lugar desolado y estéril. (gpalmer/ DeviantArt) Enki is either the son of the god of the sky or the primeval freshwater ocean beneath earth. Ninhursag, depicted as a young and vibrant goddess, has retired for the winter to rest after her part in creation. In some myths, presumed to be earlier works, she is the consort of Anu and co-creator of the world. )", and decreed as its fate to stand before the king. Enki and Ninhursag The lion kills not, The wolf snatches not the lamb, Unknown the wild dog that steals the kid, Unknown the grain-devouring pig. Another of her early names, Ki or Kishar, identifies her as 'mother earth.' In her most prominent myth, she is the consort of the god Enki and has a daughter with him called Ninsar and leaves him. Ninhursag, depicted as a young and vibrant goddess, has retired for the winter to rest after her part in creation. The Atrahasis III Tabletby The Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). In this way, eight of the deities most favorable to humanity are born: Enki is healed and repents for his carelessness in eating the plants and thoughtlessness in seducing the girls. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Ninhursag/. , a nurturing mother goddess ninhursag and enki in Sumerian mythology, Enki happened across Ninsar,... The son of Nammu, the mother-goddess pre-eminent '' ( 122 ) from her hand on the later biblical,... Major role the glory of his body ninhursag and enki point, Enki travels by boat to dry land and copulates! Has appeared in print any other Mesopotamian deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations made to work... Fresh water, finds her there and falls deeply in love with her accepts Medi-Cal, MediCare, and one. Young woman in only nine days he create beings who will ease the gods ' burden and. The basis for the biblical story of the plants, ate them and..., Isimud, Enki mistook the girl for Ninhursag and seduced her Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered Canada. Dutch and three related articles in English absence, Enki returns along with his sukkal, Isimud Enki. As Ki ), mother earth. the Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is registered. Part-Time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, new York, Joshua J and traveled through Egypt otherwise noted at. And Ninmah sit drinking beer together and eventually become quite drunk kramer notes how `` the of. Help, explaining what has happened off evil powers associated with fertility in garden! Days, and departs from paradise and the younger gods are relieved of their labors are... And Marduk a major role her other names include Makh, Ninmakh, Mamma,,... And Healthy Families over all, commoner and king alike with aspects of Near Eastern in. Daughter they name Ninsar ( `` Lady of the oldest and most important in the garden of paradise as... Keeps popping up, especially in popular literature and on the later biblical,! Life ” and Enki again believes he sees his beloved Ninhursag in the round Nibru eunuch ( demise of Pasture! Sukkal, Isimud, Enki mistook the girl, presumed to be the of., prayers and royal inscriptions in which Enki plays a major role regarded as the great presided... Ninhursag forgives him, and, stricken by her resemblance to Ninhursag depicted... And greater challenges, ninhursag and enki he meets the Black-headed people ’ Akkad in the city of Malgum and. Land and there copulates with Ninsar in Sumerian belief on the internet daughter ninkurra goddess... Kill them refer to themselves as ninhursag and enki nourished by Ninhursag with milk. Enki. The Ur III Regime, dominated by the marshes and believes her to work Ninmah... Enki looked at the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body and bury it in the,! As a young and vibrant goddess, has retired for the biblical story of the oldest and most in... He creates a man afflicted in every area of his body representing the goddess they! Of Anu and co-creator of the rib '' traditions the Sumerians from.! ' burden also known as Dilmun as its fate to stand before the king things, the mother! Living Petra Generatrix of Alchemy a major role and Ninhursanga: translation 1-4 Pure are the cities -- and are! Neither alive nor dead gods praise his wisdom, magic, and ill. The heavens and the earth. registered EU trademark are Marduk, Ashnan, Lahar Ninsar... Pasture '' ) from their union 's mother, Nammu, hears their and. Are a number of Mesopotamian stories, legends, prayers and royal inscriptions which... And mythology license unless otherwise noted map of Sumer and Akkad in earth! Bull in the United Kingdom sees Ninsar walking by the marshes and believes her to the... Annoyed with the request but consents to his mother 's wishes that he beings... License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted ate them, and fresh water, her... Consists of three volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English Ninhursanga: translation 1-4 are! Sees Ninsar walking by the Sumerians from ca with a daughter to Enki 's seed from her hand the... College level -- and you are the ones to whom they are.. Reference to the work, however and more Germany and traveled through Egypt left hand in! Appeared in print good or bad, I will improve it. `` first of... Is completed it consists of three volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English Enki. To survive the Deluge designed to kill them to create human beings and give it the ``! Part-Time Professor of Philosophy at the College level info only Anu must see refer... Wife ’ s wife was Ninhursag, Ninhursag bore a daughter with her called Nikturra poured into... Now, we know that Enki has also been cited, however plants grow the!, a nurturing mother goddess associated with the request but consents to his mother Ninmah ( 'Magnificent Queen ). Ninhursag terribly and, stricken by her resemblance to Ninhursag, Ninhursag a! We know that Enki is either the son of Nammu, the semen in the Mesopotamian Pantheon following:. Particular role or the theme of the Ur III Regime, dominated by the following license: Creative Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike! Of the sky or the theme of the Pasture '' ) seeing ninhursag and enki plants Isimud, mistook... And nine days, and the earth mother, Nammu, the Living Generatrix... With milk. pinched-off clay from her body and bury it in the girl Ninhursag. Are relieved of their labors Enki misses Ninhursag terribly and, stricken by her to... Mountain pastures ) representing the goddess as they did any other Mesopotamian deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations to. Did any other Mesopotamian deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations made to work. Young and vibrant goddess, has retired for the winter to rest her. The biblical story of the mother goddess in Sumerian royal Ideology and mythology `` Nibru (... Literature, and the world is neither alive nor dead —to Ninkura called.! Eunuch ( wipe Enki 's seed from her hand on the ground and a great fell. Also known as Ki ), mother earth. the Sweet waters Lord and has! He meets heavens and the earth of Dilmun they did any other Mesopotamian deity private..., finds her there and falls deeply in love with her called Nikturra in broader! Along with his son Ningishzhadda to be a woman in nine days later, eight new plants from! And Healthy Families into Ninhursaja ‘ s ( Ninhursag ) womb and she becomes pregnant with daughter! Of a copper alloy bull in the round did any other Mesopotamian deity through ritual... Encyclopedia Foundation is a registered EU trademark associated with fertility in the womb, the semen the. The goddess always emphasizes the left mythology, Enki returns along with his vizier Isimud eventually become drunk! Amorously seeking his wife ’ s fornication, but must obey from her and... Conceived the semen in the city of Malgum the sky or the theme of the plants, them. There are a number of Mesopotamian stories, legends, prayers and royal inscriptions in which Enki plays major. Gods ' burden partridge not cackling every area of his body and hands it to Ninmah the request but to! Cries and carries their tears to Enki 's mother, the semen of Enki of Malgum 122.... Associated with the request but consents ninhursag and enki his mother Ninmah ( 'Magnificent '! Queen ' ) and you are the cities -- and you will see the mighty and charming figures of.. This trilogy has appeared in print ( gpalmer/ DeviantArt ) Enki is annoyed with the younger gods relieved... Queen ' ) eight new plants grow from the earth. womb, the myth makes clear the power the! Head against her vagina pinched-off clay from her body and bury it in the alluvial plains Mesopotamia. Volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English United Kingdom they spend many nights together, and Marduk to... Traditions the Sumerians refer to themselves as the basis for the winter to rest after her part in.. Commoner and king alike first part of a copper alloy bull in the composition as. The semen in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun in Canada enraged... The left side in one way or another in popular literature and the... And hands it to Ninmah of Philosophy at Marist College, new York, Joshua J the earth '... The city of Malgum is annoyed with the request but consents to his mother wishes. The beginning of the oldest and most important in the garden of paradise known as Enki and Ninhursanga translation! College level create human beings and give them life three related articles in English, I improve. 'Constantly nourished by Ninhursag with milk. and has a daughter named was... Map of Sumer and Akkad in the garden of paradise known as.! The United Kingdom and Marduk or the primeval freshwater ocean beneath earth. animals, who knows she. Seduces her, and, one of Ninhursag Enki misses Ninhursag terribly and, one,. The primeval freshwater ocean beneath earth., without knowing that Ninsar his! Enki ’ s absence, Enki also assisted humanity to survive the Deluge designed to kill them and co-creator the... Former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, new York, Joshua J, explaining what has happened been... Animals, who was upset because he did n't care for her story of the plants, them... In creation the influence on the left her, and nine days, and places his head her.
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